Professor David Logan's Posts

The hectic life of a law dean leaves little time for scholarly reflection. Nevertheless, when I was asked to participate in a First Amendment workshop sponsored by the Southeast Association of Law Schools this summer, I agreed because for some time I have been interested in how the law adapts to changes in how news is disseminated. (I wrote an essay on the “24-hour news cycle” that appeared in a symposium on the impact of technology on Media Law while I was still on the faculty at Wake Forest:
ALL MONICA, ALL OF THE TIME: THE 24-HOUR NEWS CYCLE AND THE PROOF OF CULPABILITY IN...

One of the most pressing social justice issues in the United States is the fate of the millions of people who are swept up by the immigration system. And while the issue of undocumented workers is typically associated with states that share a border with Mexico, the burgeoning immigrant population in Southeastern New England has raised similar concerns in our area. In fact, within the last year there have been major raids of undocumented workers in nearby New Bedford, Massachusetts and at all of the state courthouses in Rhode Island. In addition to these high-profile events, there...

In partnership with the Rhode Island Sea Grant College Program, the RWU Marine Affairs Institute hires law students as Sea Grant Law Fellows to conduct legal research and analysis for government agencies, industry and non-profit organizations like local governments. Fellows work on timely legal issues, honing their legal research and writing skills while acquiring hands-on application of classroom knowledge. Constituents benefit from receiving balanced, neutral research while also providing students with real world experience. Below are summaries of summer, 2009 Law Fellow projects:...

As you may remember from a previous blog (“Experiential Learning,” June 23, 2009), twenty-eight RWU Law students were awarded Feinstein Institute Summer Stipends (ranging from $2500 to $3500) to enable them to work in the public sector, and eight more received grants from the Equal Justice Works Summer Corps. I am confident that they all had great experiences, implementing the lessons of the classroom, but three received prestigious awards that deserve special mention.
Jennifer Coliflores (’11) was chosen for Providence Mayor David Cicilline’s summer fellowship program. (The Mayor has...

The School of Law is always striving to use technology to reach the broadest audience with news about our terrific faculty, staff, students, alums, and programs. In the last few years, our Admissions Office has used Facebook to communicate with our incoming class with much success.
Now the School of Law has launched a fan page on Facebook. Our fan page will channel all the latest developments at the School of Law directly into your newsfeed. When faculty members are quoted in the national media, a new blog is posted, or an exciting program is on tap, you will be among...

The Law Alumni Association’s 10th Annual Golf Tournament at Cranston Country Club is in the books and it was another terrific event. The heat and humidity did not stop alumni, faculty, staff, and friends from taking part in a fun day that included golf, (way too much) great food and drink, prizes, a raffle, and a silent auction. The winners of the “best ball” competition were P.K. Palmer ‘02, Greg Calat, and Mike Marciano. Among the other notable teams was a foursome featuring three of the most popular teachers on our Adjunct Faculty: United States District Judge Will Smith...

The Class of 2012 has arrived at RWU Law, and it is the largest, and has the best credentials, in our history. This is not surprising because we were swamped with applications (up 21% over last year). I want to share with you some information about this talented group of future attorneys as described by our terrific Assistant Dean for Admissions, Michael Boylen, in his welcome address.
I would like to welcome you to Roger Williams University School of Law. We, in the Admissions Office, have had the distinct privilege of getting to know you over the last year. ...

As students return to RWU for the beginning of fall classes, I thought I would provide snapshots of a couple of rising 3Ls who had unique summer experiences….
Jay Resmini
Jay Resmini spent his summer in Los Angeles, working in the Worldwide TV Distribution Legal Department of MGM studios. He was immersed in entertainment law, with projects changing almost daily. The highlight: a project for the Vice President involving a 64 picture agreement with French television. Jay: “I had to regularly communicate with the many players involved. At first I was a bit intimidated, especially...

Over the last 6 years RWU Law has been an active participant in shaping both the present and the future of law school admissions through service to the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC). While LSAC is best known for administering the LSAT, it is a non-profit organization that governs much of the legal admissions process in the United States, Canada, and Australia (and soon India and China!). We are proud that LSAC has appointed three of our own to prestigious posts.
Michael Boylen, our Assistant Dean of Admissions, has been appointed Chair of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and...

On July 16, 2009, Paul Suttell was sworn in as Rhode Island’s 51st Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, with state and federal judges, political leaders, family and friends in attendance. In spite of the dreary day, the atmosphere was festive, reflecting the remarkably broad array of support (a unanimous vote in the Senate) for the jurist from Little Compton, who has moved from the Family Court (where he served 1990-2003), to Associate Justice of the Supreme Court (2003-09), and now to the pinnacle of the state judiciary as Chief Justice.
Dean Bastone and I attended the ceremony, where...